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Geocaching

Global Positioning Systems (GPS) is a US Military derived system, which allows the user to know their exact position on the earth, via a small receiver. When first implemented, the US military used to distort the signal, so that unfriendly forced couldn't use the system to any degree of accuracy. This was called Selective Availability. In May 2000, Selective Availability was removed by the Clinton administration and general uses were able to get good accuracy for the first time. In 'celebration' of this someone hid a box of 'goodies', known as a cache (pronounced cash), in Oregon and published the coordinates on the Internet and challenged people to find it. Within three days, two people had found it and the hobby of Geocaching was born.

Geocaching is now played in 190 countries around the world with some 75,000+ caches. The 'goodies' placed in cache boxes include toys, bookmarks, ornaments, books, CD's etc. Visitors are free to take an item as long as they leave an item in return. There are also special items called Travel Bugs. These items have metal dog tags attached to them with a unique number. A finder takes the item from one cache and places it in another and uses the number to record the move via the web site. Some of these items get moved long distances. We own a number of these Travel Bugs.

However the true prize of the hunt is the locations. We've visited some wonderful places that we would never have visited if it were not for Geocaching. We've seen beautiful countryside, historic monuments and interesting locations through this hobby. One of the first caches we did was to an 11th century church, the remains of which are buried deep in a forest near Dorchester. An extremely interesting location. Another great place was in the Lake District. Under a road bridge was a huge waterfall, which you can't see from the road. Stopping off to find a cache, we walked under the waterfall, which was amazing. Again if it was not for Geocaching we would have driven past it and not realised that it was there.

This is a great hobby for all the family and many families take part in this hobby. A walk in the countryside is even more fun for the kids if they know there is hidden treasure at the end of it.

Click here for details of our travel bugs